Preview, Game Day #8: Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks

The update on Brayden McNabb is there is no update per Darryl Sutter.

Sutter said no update re McNabb and then he gave one! McNabb's arm is in a sling and he will have more evaluation here in Chi.

— lisa dillman (@reallisa) October 30, 2016

In any case, this could be good news but I guess we'll see.

UPDATE:

Kings today placed d-man Brayden McNabb on IR list.

— LAKingsPR (@LAKingsPR) October 30, 2016

So this won't be a short term injury.

Game Day #8: Los Angeles Kings @ Chicago Blackhawks

Start Time: 6:00 PM CT / 4:00 PM PT

TV: Fox Sports West

Radio: KABC 790 AM

Streaming: Fox Sports Go (requires cable subscription)

Chicago Blackhawks (via Second City Hockey):

Richard Panik – Jonathan Toews – Patrick Kane,
Artemi Panarin – Artem Anisimov – Marian Hossa
Tyler Motte – Nick Schmaltz – Ryan Hartman
Dennis Rasmussen – Marcus Kruger – Jordin Tootoo

Duncan Keith – Brian Campbell
Michal Kempny – Brent Seabrook
Niklas Hjalmarsson – Michal Rozsival

Corey Crawford

Los Angeles Kings (based on last night):

King - Kopitar - Toffoli
Pearson - Carter - Setoguchi
Clifford - Shore - Lewis
Brown - Dowd - Andreoff

McNabb - Doughty
Muzzin - Martinez Forbort - Gilbert

Budaj (Campbell)

What Kings fans will be watching for: The impact Matt Greene will have against a fast, tough Blackhawks team with McNabb out due to his injury. How will LA's terrible power play fare versus Chicago's much-improved, but still much-maligned penalty kill?

What Blackhawks fans will be watching for: Corey Crawford has been one of the best goalies in the league so far at 5v5. However, he (and his teammates) have suffered quite a bit at 5v4. Plus, the Hawks are having an unusually slow start to their season stemming from a lack of offense. Can they get it going tonight against a tired team on the second night of a back-to-back?

|What everyone else will be watching for: Game 5 of the 2014 Western Conference Final was an epic matchup that reminded people how much fun hockey is to watch. It set the bar high. So far these two teams have struggled in the early season. Will they be able to capture any of the magic that had everyone breathless in the playoffs?

Stat of the Day: Alec Martinez LA's points leader with 7 points in 8 games while Dustin Brown is on pace for 59 points this season.

The Key Players: Tyler Toffoli and Marian Hossa. In a small sample size, Toffoli has always seemed to have good success against the Blackhawks and he's primed for a big breakout offensively. Hossa is going to be honored tonight for becoming just the fifth Blackhawk to score 500 goals. Like Toffoli against Chicago, Hossa seems to be high on the list of Kings Killers.

The Prediction: Peter Budaj manages to hang on to the good luck charm that has so far kept him injury free (knock on wood) and even steals this game for LA.